The drying process results in less water and more concentrated flavour and sugar in the grapes which, when translated into wine, means greater flavour and aroma complexity.
This creates premium category wines, according to Ward, that range from 100 per cent Appassimento to blends with partial Appassimento content that let winemakers create wine of consistent flavour and quality year after year.
“The Appassimento wine allows producers to make more premium wines, which helps increase their profitability,” he says.
Prices start at approximately $20 for a bottle of Appassimento blend and range to over $100 for pure Appassimento wine, and although the technology can be used with both white and red grapes, it is most typically used with reds like cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon.
The technology was launched into the marketplace in 2014 as a fully enclosed system that even small wineries with limited space could use.
Earlier this year, a new modular version of the vertical airflow system was introduced for wineries with existing facilities that didn’t need the enclosure, making Appassimento more affordable and accessible for Niagara wineries of any scale. This system is available through Central Fabricating of Beamsville.
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